"WSA, WISA, & WHOOSHA," Brandon Wander, Surfing Magazine, Feb 1976

The Women's International Surfing Association began their first pro meet promptly at seven a.m. The powerful speaker system was pumping everything from Sly Stone to the Tijuana Brass. Judging and waiting areas were roped off. With Hang Ten's bucks behind them, Jericho Poppler and Terry Torromeo directed a well-oiled machine.

Twenty-four women from all coasts, showing a broad range of surfing abilities, competed for a worthwhile payoff. The first six heats displayed mixed surfing in fair two- to four-foot conditions. Working within a smooth double-elimination system,, the pack was quickly pared down to four semifinals, one semi-main, and the final heat.

Still, the judging suffered from a subjective zero to twenty point scoring scale, while the contestants suffered from outside interference.

Malibu will be Malibu. The only way to clear the water is to call in the National Guard. Dozens of guys infiltrated the contest area and bared their ego trips for the photo gallery. Fortunately, it never got completely out of hand. Announcers Big Mama Micky Dyer and Duline Lewer tried to "reason with the animals." Any dude who dropped in got heavily booed by the spectators on the beach. The lifeguards even confiscated boards of uncool macho trippers.

Nothing fazed the WISAettes. The intensity of the heats from the semifinals on was tremendous. The semi-main was the best of the day. Though Margo won this heat and went on to win the finals, Rell Sunn, Sally Prange, and Shannon Aikman weren't far behind her. Sally, a little fireplug from Hawaii, surfed with power. Rell, also from Hawaii, showed a fluid driving style comparable to many male surf stars.

When the spray settled, Margo and her hyped contest style took $1,500. She won the money, but all the women won the contest. Throughout the day the women displayed more selfless sportsmanship and camaraderie than could be found in a year of the men's circuit. Even Hang Ten took a low profile and should be commended.

Before the meet, some males wondered if the caliber of women's surfing justified such a contest. The surfing was not consistently hot, partly due to the fact Debbie Melville, Terry, and Jericho Poppler were on the beach judging and directing, instead of competing. The women showed less power and aggressiveness than male competitors but had a finer tone to their movements. With excellent body control, wipeouts never seemed awkward. After changing my orientation to their style, I felt some of the women were as proficient as the best male small-wave riders.

Neglected within all other surfing organizations, where the women always surf last, WISA not only presented an attractive image of female surfing but provided pointers on how to run a contest. As an exhibition, you couldn't ask more of WISA's first pro meet, except maybe to wait for better waves. It was unpretentious and fun, while also being totally professional.

1975 Hang Ten Women's International Pro Surfing Championships

Subscribe or Login

Encyclopedia of Surfing

Interviews

Features

The Sunday Joint

Videos